Cost of living index
Hickory, NC
88.5 / 100
Living in Hickory, NC is 11.5% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
88.5
Housing / rent
59.6
vs US average
−11.5%
What it costs to live in Hickory, NC
Hickory, NC has an overall price level of 88.5 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 11.5% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 59.6 it is 40.4% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Hickory, NC an expensive place to live?
Hickory, NC has an overall cost-of-living index of 88.5, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 11.5% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Hickory, NC?
Housing in Hickory, NC scores 59.6 against a US average of 100 — roughly 40.4% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Hickory, NC compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Hickory, NC sit at 88.5 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 59.6. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.